Advocacy in action blog

American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely and NAIFA-MA President Josh O’Gara issued the following joint statement on the best interest annuity rule adopted recently by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance:

“The new rule adopted by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance adds to the nationwide drive for enhanced protections for consumers seeking lifetime income through annuities.

NAIFA members, in Washington, D.C., for NAIFA’s National Leadership Conference, went to Capitol Hill to participate in more than 150 in-person meetings with members of Congress and their staff.

Members of NAIFA’s New York chapter (NAIFA-NY) held a virtual meeting with officials from the state Department of Financial Services (DFS). State President Gary Cappon, CLU, LUTCF, RICP, FSCP, CLTC, provided introductions and a brief rundown of NAIFA’s advocacy work and support for the agent and advisor community and the consumers they serve. He also discussed challenges with financial product availability in the state. President-Elect Vinny Dallo, ChFC, CLU, CLTC, LUTCF, and Vice President of Advocacy Paul Sciacca presented “A Day in the Life of a Financial Professional,” highlighting how NAIFA members serve families and businesses in the state.

NAIFA is proud to announce that Robert A. Miller, M.S., M.A., Partner at Miller-Pomerantz Insurance and Financial Services in New York City, is the recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.

Miller, a loyal member since 1983, was NAIFA’s national President for the 2011-2012 term. He had previously served as President of the NAIFA-New York state chapter and NAIFA-New York City. He was elected to the NAIFA Board of Trustees in 2005 and has served as trustee liaison to the CEO Outreach Program, the Young Advisor Team, and the Corporate Partnerships Program. He also served as chair of the NAIFA Governance Committee and was a member of the NAIFA Finance Committee.

NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle appeared with other industry thought leaders on the National & Federal Insurance Perspective Panel at the Life Insurance Council of New York (LICONY) Annual Meeting and Planning Conference in Albany. She discussed with other panelists the top issues facing the insurance and financial services industry, the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the insurance sector, issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and NAIFA’s work with the American Council of Life Insurance (ACLI) to remove unnecessary barriers to recruiting new insurance professionals.

NAIFA congratulates Lisa Gomez on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).  

NAIFA Trustee Christopher Gandy, LACP, loyal member since 2003 and Founder of Midwest Legacy Group, is participating in a panel discussion at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2022 Insurance Summit. The session, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Producer Licensing,” is exploring how regulators and the insurance industry are addressing DEI issues in the distribution of insurance through pre-licensing and licensing exam procedures.

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance announced earlier this year that the state insurance licensing exam will now be offered in Spanish. NAIFA's Massachusetts chapter has been working with the Division of Insurance on this initiative and advocated for its adoption.

NAIFA Policy Director Maeghan Gale will represent insurance and financial advisors and NAIFA on the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).

NIPR is a not-for-profit technology company with the goal of streamlining the producer licensing process. Governed by a Board of Directors representing state insurance regulators and members of the insurance industry, NIPR is an affiliate of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Gale joins the board immediately.

As many industries transition to alternative working arrangements in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, certain sectors and functions essential to the nation’s public health, safety, and community well-being must continue to operate. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released an advisory initial list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers.”